John Brown (4:34)
John Brown's failed attempt to loot the armory at Harper's Ferry sparks the beginning of abolition.
Videos (15)
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John Brown
John BrownVideo Clip (4:34)
Video Clip (4:34)
John Brown's failed attempt to loot the armory at Harper's Ferry sparks the beginning of abolition.
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John Brown's Raid
John Brown's RaidVideo Clip (1:38)
Video Clip (1:38)
Although poorly planned and executed, John Brown's raid helped lead the nation into Civil War and made him one of the most controversial men of his day.
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Civil War's Greatest Myth
Civil War's Greatest MythVideo Clip (2:41)
Video Clip (2:41)
What you think you know about the Civil War may not be the whole truth.
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America Divided
America DividedVideo Clip (3:54)
Video Clip (3:54)
America is at the brink of a Civil War as cotton spreads west and threatens to expand slavery into new territories.
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Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
Harriet Tubman and the Underground RailroadVideo Clip (3:07)
Video Clip (3:07)
Born a slave, Harriett Tubman became a famous "conductor" on the Underground Railroad, leading hundreds of slaves to freedom.
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John Brown's Last Speech
John Brown's Last SpeechVideo Clip (2:36)
Video Clip (2:36)
Actor David Strathairn performs abolitionist John Brown's final speech before his execution in 1859. Introduction by Viggo Mortensen.
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Frederick Douglass
Frederick DouglassVideo Clip (2:25)
Video Clip (2:25)
Find out how Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery to become one of the most respected and effective abolitionist leaders.
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Legacy of the Civil War
Legacy of the Civil WarVideo Clip (1:22)
Video Clip (1:22)
One hundred and fifty years after it began, the Civil War is still an important component of our national character.
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America and the Civil War
America and the Civil WarVideo Clip (4:04)
Video Clip (4:04)
Discover how the bloodiest war in American history transformed the face of the nation.
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Abraham Lincoln's House Divided Speech
Abraham Lincoln's House Divided SpeechVideo Clip (2:31)
Video Clip (2:31)
Abraham Lincoln's 1858 "House Divided" speech catapults him into the national consciousness with its bold moral assessment of the future of American slavery.
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Civil War Turning Point
Civil War Turning PointVideo Clip (3:08)
Video Clip (3:08)
Find out what event turned the tide of the Civil War.
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Origins of Slavery in America
Origins of Slavery in AmericaVideo Clip (3:01)
Video Clip (3:01)
In 1619, the Dutch introduced the first captured Africans to America, planting the seeds of a slavery system that evolved into a nightmare of abuse and cuelty that would ultimately divide the nation.
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Lincoln Issues the Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln Issues the Emancipation ProclamationVideo Clip (2:31)
Video Clip (2:31)
The Emancipation Proclamation refocuses the purpose of the Civil War to address the issue of slavery.
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The Gettysburg Address: A New Declaration of Independence
The Gettysburg Address: A New Declaration of IndependenceVideo Clip (1:45)
Video Clip (1:45)
After the carnage at the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln reaffirms his commitment to achieving freedom for all.
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The Abolitionist Movement
The Abolitionist MovementVideo Clip (3:26)
Video Clip (3:26)
In the decades before the Civil War, anti-slavery sentiment sparked an abolitionist movement that employed risky and radical tactics to bring an end to slavery.
Photo Galleries (5)
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The Battle Over Slavery
The Battle Over Slavery(12 Photos)
12 Photos
Explore images of abolitionists, the Underground Railroad and much more as you learn about the battle over slavery in the United States.
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Slave Life
Slave Life(9 Photos)
9 Photos
View pictures of North American slave life during the 18th and 19th centuries, featuring pictures of slaves themselves and the environments in which they worked and lived.
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The Slave Trade
The Slave Trade(10 Photos)
10 Photos
Explore images of the Atlantic and African Slave Trades, from holding cells in Africa to auction houses in Atlanta.
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Kansas
Kansas(6 Photos)
6 Photos
View pictures from the state of Kansas on History. See images of famous locations that represent the state.
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West Virginia
West Virginia(11 Photos)
11 Photos
View pictures from the state of West Virginia on History. See images of famous locations that represent the state.
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Read More about John Brown
A radical abolitionist, John Brown led the raid on Harpers Ferry hoping to incite and arm a slave rebellion.
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